pi Plucking or threading is performed by rapid shrinkage and expansion of the thread so you can get a hold of even the smallest hair and pull them from the roots. This treatment is completely hygienic because the thread which was used is thrown away after touching the facial area. This method can work even on the shortest hair and eyebrows that are not easy to tame. During the procedure no chemicals are used, so threading is ideal for people with sensitive skin. 1. Use only natural cotton thread. You can probably find one in your mothers/grandmothers sewing kit. Make sure you use a good quality one, strong thread. There is no special thread for threading, you can use any thread as long as it is strong and doesn’t snap easily. 2. Loosely tie a loop of thread around your neck and tie a knot – don’t worry, it won’t harm you. 3. Form a triangle. Hold the loose string in one hand and with the other hold a string around your forefinger and thumb. Then twist the triangle about 7 times. 4. Lower and raise the loose end of the string while holding your triangle tot to create a rolling instrument. This movement will catch few hairs in the twists and pluck them out. 5.

Find a volunteer and firmly place the line of twists to the area to be threaded. Move up and down while pulling the loose end of the string. Slightly pull your neck from the area being threaded. The straight line of twists will catch any hair in its path and it’s especially helpful while taming wild eyebrow to create a neat, elegant look. Best practice is achieved on your own leg, it’s easily reachable. You have to strain too much to look for hair or to reach it, and don’t need a mirror either. While sitting comfortably on a chair, prop up one leg and identify the area from which you want to remove hair. Place the thread on this portion. One end of the hair should be wound part, and the thread from the other side should be on both sides of the hair you want to pluck. Now, relocate the wound portion to the other side as you make sure it catches the hair you marked. As it moves back and forth, it will lift the hair from the root and pluck it out. Practice is essential – you have to put some effort into it to manage this ancient skill.

And if you know how to thread your upper lip yourself, you can run thread through it for a couple of minutes every other day so your upper lip is always completely hair free. Waiting for waxing session at the parlor becomes history. This is how it’s done. Now you can easily get rid of unwanted hair in places no hair should ever be. Remember to always use a different string of cotton thread and apply some talc on the area you plucked. Enjoy! RECOMMENDED for YOU Enjoy Permanent Hair Removal in Sydney Depilation Shaving Copper razors first appeared around 3,000 BC. Alexander the Great promoted shaving within his armies to avoid beard grabbing in combat. The safety razor came on the market in 1880 and the disposable bladed safety razor we know today was patented by King Camp Gillette in 1904. In 1970 Wilkinson introduced the multi-blade plastic cartridge razors that are now ubiquitous. At this point razors for men and women began to vary in looks and price but the mechanism remained identical. Greek Razor Cutthroat Razor Safety Razor Multi-blade Advantages Very fast and inexpensive. Requires little or no skill and requires no assistance.

Cuts and other injuries have become rare since the invention of the safety razor. Disadvantages Hair begins to appear above the surface of the skin within hours to days. Must be repeated daily to weekly to be effective. While multi-blade razors may have a smoother cutting action, the claim that they lift the hair from the follicle before cutting and thus produce longer-lasting results was proven false in an American lawsuit. Side-effects A chance of shaving nicks becoming infected. Some people are particularly sensitive to “shaving rash” where the abrasive action of scraping at the upper layer of skin triggers an allergic reaction. Depilatory creams and powders The active ingredient in these compounds is calcium thioglycolate or potasium thioglycolate both of which attack the keratin strands within the hair to weaken it. The cream is coated on the skin and left for a period of a few minutes. The cream, now containing freed hair strands is scraped off and the skin rinsed to remove cream residue. More hair will likely come away while towelling the skin. Regrowth will start to appear above the skin surface within 2-3 days.

Depilatory Cream Advantages Lasts longer than shaving (1-2 weeks) as the hair is removed just below the surface of the skin leaving a slightly tapered end below the follicle opening. Requires no skill and requires no assistance. Can be done as part of a bathing routine. Disadvantages These creams also attack and irritate the skin since the skin also contains keratin. The ideal length of time for the cream to be left on the skin will vary from person to person through variations in skin sensitivity and hair thickness. The creams have a strong and distinctive smell. Cream can stain clothing or towels if accidental contact is made. Side-effects Mistiming removal of the cream can result in painful rashes from cream being left in contact with the skin beyond the advised removal time. Epilation – Temporary Tweezing Involves mechanically grabbing the individual hairs and pulling them out. Roman baths were known to employ people solely to pluck hair from client’s bodies. Tweezing is the most basic method that removes the entire hair from the follicle. Hair will not appear on the surface of the skin for 2-4 weeks.

Tweezing Advantages Tweezing removes individual hairs and is extremely accurate when selectively removing individual hairs is important such as with eyebrow sculpting. Disadvantages It is very slow and unsuitable for large areas of unwanted hair. Some areas may require professional assistance where extreme accuracy and shaping experience is needed. Some people find tweezing very painful. Side-effects Not to be used on nose hairs. The potential for infection in this body area is high. Can cause ingrown hairs. Waxing Large areas of the skin can have hair removed through waxing. There are two methods of waxing: traditional hard wax and the more common soft wax. With hard wax, the warm liquid wax is spread over the skin and allowed to harden to a solid. It is then briskly pulled away with the fingers. Hard wax does not stick to skin, only to hair, so it can be used on people with sensitive skin. Hard wax also grabs more firmly and is more likely to be successful at removing ingrown hairs. Soft wax, or strip wax, is spread over the skin, usually with a spatula, and a cloth or paper strip is placed over the wax to reinforce it.

Soft wax, as the name implies, does not have to harden to a solid to do its work so treatment is much faster than hard wax. Once the liquid wax sets, the strip is pulled away taking the wax and hair with it. Hair removed via either method will not appear to regrow for 2-8 weeks. Hard Wax Soft Wax Inexpensive for temporarily removing large areas of hair. Most areas of the body do not need professional assistance. By far the fastest method for removing large areas of hair. Disadvantages Removal consistency is difficult to get right. Side-effects Hygiene principles need to be applied even in home use to avoid skin infections. Skin burns can occur if wax is overheated. Threading Similar to tweezing but here rows of hairs are removed together by rolling a doubled cotton thread over the unwanted hair. This method originated in India and has been in use for thousands of years in the East. It is as accurate as tweezing and slightly faster. Threading Advantages Removing hairs in a row makes this method faster yet even more accurate than tweezing for shaping eyebrows. Inexpensive. Many people find it less painful than tweezing.

Disadvantages Requires a practitioner and these can be difficult to find outside of large cities. Side-effects Redness or puffiness of the treated skin. Potential for bacterial infections such as folliculitis unless strict hygiene practices are followed. Rotary Epilator A motorised device that looks like an electric razor. Instead of an active head made up of vibrating or rotating blades, rotary epilators have a row of rotating tweezers to grabs multiple hairs and pull them out. Rotary Epilator Advantages Allows body areas normally treated by waxing such as arms and legs to be tweezed at home. Can be effective for 1-3 weeks before regrowth appears. Disadvantages Skin must be pulled tight to avoid pinching. Difficult to use on fine hair. Hair must be grown to a minimum length for the epilator to grab them. It can be as painful and assaulting to the skin as it sounds. Side-effects The epilator must be thoroughly cleaned after each use otherwise folliculitis and other infections may result. Prescription Drugs Eflornithine hydrochloride is the active ingredient in drugs prescribed for excessive hair growth. These drugs stall the hair growth cycle in the resting phase.

The drug takes 2 months to take effect and once treatment stops the hair will grow back. Eflornithine hydrochloride has been shown in clinical trials to be effective in 58% of patients who took it. Eflornithine Hydrochloride Advantages Women for whom the drug is effective will be able to halt the growth of facial hair. Disadvantages Cannot be used by men because of its effect on hormones. Should not be used on parts of the body other than the face. Side-effects Will produce feminising effects if used by men or prepubescent girls. Side-effects have not been checked in pregnant women. Can inflame the effect of acne or skin punctures. Epilation – Longterm Reduction Laser Laser Laser hair removal was first introduced in 1997. It relies on the principle that laser energy can pass through light coloured material with little effect but is absorbed and converted to heat when passing through dark material. In the case of hair removal, the laser is relying on the high concentration of melanin in hair compared to skin for its selective action. For this reason laser is only effective on black or brown hair combined with light coloured skin. Laser is applied using a wand held against the skin.

Areas of several square centimetres are treated with each firing of the laser. Used skilfully, the client should have little discomfort other than a feeling much like sunburn. Not all lasers exhibit exactly the same characteristics as they operate at different frequencies and power levels. Ruby lasers are the only lasers to operate in the visible spectrum but their ability to treat only the palest skin has seen them largely replaced by diode lasers. Common types of lasers in use today are Alexandrite, Diode, YAG and IPL (not actually a laser). All these lasers operate at near-infrared frequencies. Independent data on the effectiveness of the different lasers is difficult to find. Alexandrite lasers are 69% effective at inhibiting hair growth over 6 months with a 9.5% report of side-effects while diode lasers are 72% effective but with a 29% incidence of side-effects. IPL has a 6 month effective rate of 67% and 15.3% incidence of side-effects.

It is believed the reason laser is able to achieve a clear reduction in hair growth but not permanent destruction of the hair is because it is only able to target the symptom (hair) and not the cause (bulb and bulge). Although the bulb and bulge are transparent to laser light, the bulb will be damaged extensively due to its attachment to the hair shaft but within 6-12 months it will heal and resume hair production. Advantages Up to 60 times faster than treatments targeting individual hairs. Effective for long lasting (12 months) hair reduction in suitable clients. Useful for large areas such as backs and legs. Disadvantages Good results are heavily dependent on clients having high contrast between dark hair and light skin. Rarely used for facial hair due to the risk of side effects. Long-term safety data on laser’s effect on the skin structure have not been clinically established. Laser is ineffective on vellus hair (light down or peach fuzz). Side-effects Minor side-effects are redness and swelling which will heal in a matter of days. A medium term side-effect is a change in skin pigmentation that can last 6 months or more. Permanent side-effects from inappropriate use can include burning and scarring.

Some countries only allow doctors to use laser equipment because permanent side-effects are possible. This is not the case in Australia. Laser is considered to be dangerous when attempted on dark or olive skin complexions due to the amount of melanin in these skin-types. This melanin has the potential to convert the laser energy to heat much faster than fair skin and retain pigmentation marks or scars permanently. Laser is not recommended for women who have moles, are pregnant or suffer from PCOS or hirsutism. Damage to vellus hair follicles on a woman in a state of hormone imbalance from any of these conditions can tip that hair into conversion to terminal hair as the bulb recovers. The result is actually an increase in problem hair over time. Intense Pulsed light IPL Commonly known as IPL, it is often categorised with laser as it uses the same principle for its effect and the machines look identical. IPL differs from laser in that laser utilises a monochrome (single frequency or pure colour) coherent (straight beam of photons) light source. IPL uses a conventional light source covering a spectrum of frequencies that are filtered to those best for passing harmlessly through skin.

As the light is scattered rather than coherent it is believed to be less damaging to the skin and safer for darker skin types. IPL is applied using a wand device in the same way as laser and produces the same “sunburn” effect in the client. Advantages Claimed to be less damaging to the skin structure and safer on darker skin but no clinical data exists yet to support this view. Up to 60 times faster than treatments targeting individual hairs. Effective for long lasting (12 months) hair reduction in suitable clients. Useful for large areas such as backs and legs. Disadvantages Good results are heavily dependent on clients having high contrast between dark hair and light skin. Rarely used for facial hair due to the risk of side-effects. Long-term safety data on IPL’s effect on the skin structure have not been clinically established. IPL is ineffective on vellus hair (light down or peach fuzz). Side-effects Minor side-effects are redness and swelling which will heal in a matter of days. A medium-term side-effect is a change in skin pigmentation that can last 6 months or more. Permanent side-effects from inappropriate use can include burning and scarring.

Some countries only allow doctors to use laser or IPL equipment because permanent side-effects are possible. This is not the case in Australia. IPL is considered to be dangerous when attempted on dark or olive skin complexions due to the amount of melanin in these skin-types. This melanin has the potential to convert the IPL energy to heat much faster than fair skin and retain pigmentation marks or scars permanently. IPL is not recommended for women who have moles, are pregnant or suffer from PCOS or hirsutism. Damage to vellus hair follicles on a woman in a state of hormone imbalance from any of these conditions can tip that hair into conversion to terminal hair as the bulb recovers. The result is actually an increase in problem hair over time. Thermolysis Thermolysis Thermolysis was developed by Dr Bordier of Paris in 1923 as an adjunct to the galvanic hair removal method. Thermolysis works on the same principle as a microwave oven. High frequency AC current is passed through a probe inserted into the hair follicle alongside the hair. This radio frequency energy converts to heat within the liquid found in the follicle, which then electrocoagulates (cooks) surrounding tissue.

Thermolysis is much faster and simpler to apply than the original galvanic method of hair removal requiring the probe to be inserted into the follicle only momentarily to extract the hair. Thermolysis was originally introduced as a way of removing vellus hair (light down or peach fuzz) while clients undertaking galvanic electrology on terminal hair (dark thick hair) were waiting for the slower galvanic method to do its work. However, because of its speed advantage, thermolysis rapidly gained popularity for treating all types of hair. The limitations of thermolysis were well understood by its inventor and early practitioners which is why they limited its use. At a time when galvanic electrology was the norm, clients expected electrology to be completely permanent and while thermolysis could permanently kill hair in the anegen (growth) stage, this only accounts, at best, for 10% to 60% of hairs depending on body area. The rest will eventually grow back. Such a success rate was acceptable for thinning out peach fuzz but not for removing dark hairs. Advantages The fastest method of hair removal targeting individual hairs.

At least as effective as laser at long-term (6 to 12 months) hair reduction and may permanently kill some hair. Suitable for all hair and skin colours. Can be used on facial hair. Only localised and brief pain/discomfort at the treatment site. Disadvantages Can be as expensive as laser by the time similar results are achieved. Results can vary greatly depending on the skill of the operator. If the operator is tempted to reduce power in order to improve client comfort or decrease dwell time to increase the number of hairs treated the result will be more vigorous regrowth since the hair bulb is left intact. Side-effects If clinic sanitary standards are lax the method can potentially spread infection. A critical issue with the thermolysis technique is the density factor. When used to simply thin out areas of fine hair this is not a problem but attempting to completely clear an area of dense hair with this technique will cause overlap in areas of skin affected by electrocoagulation. Overlap 3 or more affected areas and permanent scaring will occur presenting as irregular areas of marbling or pitting of the skin. An operator may be tempted to increase the power or length of time in each follicle in order to produce longer-lasting results.

As well as increasing the risk of overlap, this has the effect of unevenly heating the follicle and twisting or even inverting the hair shaft. If the hair bulb dies this is of little consequence but if it does not the result is an ingrown hair. Blend Blend The goal of blend electrology is to combine the advantages of both thermolysis and galvanic into one potent hair removal method. Galvanic electrology creates its effect by converting moisture in the follicle into caustic lye to break down the walls and structure of the hair follicle while thermolysis relies on heating this same moisture to the point of electrocoagulation. Blend proponents believe that heated lye is an order of magnitude more caustic than when at body temperature so this method should combine the speed of thermolysis with the effectiveness and safety of galvanic electrology. Blend operators believe they are applying galvanic electrology with a power and speed boost from thermolysis. Recently, insulated probes have become popular with blend operators as they concentrate power at the base of the hair and bypass the ring of nerves around the middle of the follicle to lower discomfort for the client.

Unfortunately this limits the galvanic effect which relies on surface area for producing lye. With great prescience, the 1979 study, Electrolysis Regrowth by McKinstry, stumbled upon the importance of the bulge without even knowing it existed when they noted that if blend electrologists also ensured the destruction of the top third of the follicle then regrowth was greatly reduced. Again, the use of insulated probes leaves the top third of the follicle untreated reducing the long-term effectiveness of the treatment. Advantages Much faster than galvanic electrology. Danger of thermolysis density scaring is greatly reduced. Suitable for all hair and skin colours. Can be used on facial hair. Can be used on moles and tattoos. Pain/discomfort at the treatment site is only slightly higher than thermolysis. Limited data indicates blend is more effective at both long-term hair reduction and permanent destruction of some hair than thermolysis. Disadvantages Can be expensive and time-consuming. Results can vary greatly depending on the skill and patience of the operator.

Without careful calibration, blend electrology is likely to have the thermolysis and galvanic effects working against, rather than complementing, each other as both methods are competing for the same resource – moisture within the follicle. If the proportion of power devoted to thermolysis is set too high there will be no moisture for the galvanic effect to work with and the client will be effectively receiving thermolysis alone – albeit very slowly. Contrary to the belief in the potency of heated lye, the caustic effect of lye is a chemical reaction relying on a fixed ratio between the quantity of lye and the quantity of cell material it can react with. Heat may speed the reaction but will not change this ratio nor can it increase the volume of lye formed by the electrolytic reaction which is a function of time verses current. Again, skill and patience in the operator is needed to ensure time is given for the galvanic effect to take place. Side-effects If clinic sanitary standards are lax the method can potentially spread infection. While the chances of marbling or pitting of the skin are greatly reduced in blend, they can still occur if power settings are too high and hairs are treated too close together.

Epilation – Permanent Galvanic Electrology Galvanic Multi-probe This method was invented by ophthalmologist Doctor Charles Michel in 1875 for the delicate procedure of removing ingrown eyelashes. It takes its name from the galvanic cell (what we know as a battery) that powered the early devices. Despite the emphasis on the term “electro”, galvanic electrology is a chemical process. A fine metal probe is inserted into the hair follicle alongside the hair and a low-voltage DC current is passed through it. The electric circuit is completed by passing the current through the body and back to the machine via a conductive return pad strapped to a limb or held in the hand. The negative charge at the probe head converts the moisture in the follicle into caustic lye (sodium hydroxide). The lye breaks down the lining of the follicle along with the hair’s reproductive components – the bulb and the bulge. The advantage of this chemical process is that lye production is very predictable and a simple time verses current formula can determine the quantity of lye in the follicle.

The chemical breakdown of the follicle even continues after the hair is removed with some operators removing the hair itself long before the probe is removed. One of the residue compounds produced by the lye reaction in the follicle is hydrogen peroxide. At these concentrations hydrogen peroxide keeps the follicle sterile and aids in triggering the healing process. At the return pad there is also an electro-chemical reaction taking place. Here hydrochloric acid is forming on the surface of the skin as the positive charge leaves the body. The large surface area of the return pad ensures the concentration of this acid is kept to a minimum. The skin can be coated with a sodium-based gel to counteract its effect. With the probe needing to be kept in the follicle for 2 minutes or more it can take a long time to treat an area of skin with the galvanic method and just one probe. Designers rapidly caught on to the idea of multi-probe machines starting in 1916 with 4, 8 then 16 probes. An experienced operator may use two 16-probe machines at once on a client and remove hairs continuously and almost as fast as a blend operator.

While the galvanic method may permanently kill every hair it is used on this cannot account for follicles currently in the resting state with no hair shaft growing in them. These dormant follicles will appear identical to treated follicles until the growth phase recommences. This is why the galvanic method will still require 2 or 3 passes on an area of skin over a period of several months in order to pick up this latent growth. Scientists and operators alike have puzzled for nearly a century as to why properly administered galvanic electrology appears to be effective in destroying hair follicles outside the growth phase when other methods do not, even when it can be verified that the hair bulb has been eliminated. Recent experiments by Korean dermatologists have shown that the bulge, located at a relatively shallow depth in the follicle, is responsible for producing the stem cells needed to regrow the bulb at the start of each growth cycle. In these experiments live hair follicles were removed in the usual method for hair transplantation but, in this case, the bottom third of the follicle was cut off completely removing the hair bulb and all growth structures. The follicles were then implanted back into the skin.

After 100 days almost half the transplanted follicles had regrown hair. These experiments proved that the hair bulb can be completely regrown from stem cells in the bulge and from this it is surmised that in galvanic electrology the distribution of lye over the full depth of the follicle as well as its depth of penetration into surrounding tissue is the reason it is able to attack both the bulb and the bulge and permanently destroy the hair. Advantages Hair Removal Methods skip to main | skip to sidebar Hair Removal Methods Here you can find all about hair removal methods for legs, pubic hair, armpit, eyebrows...Tips, pictures videos, personal experiences, products. Contact us if you have interesting information. Here you can find a complete list of articles classified by date or tags: Friday, February 15, 2008 All about Threading What is hair threading? Threading is an ancient method of hair removal used to give clean lines and good shape to the eyebrows and hairs on the face. Threading involves rolling twisted pure cotton threads over untidy hairlines to pluck hair. The threading pulls out a whole row of hair which contrasts to the tweezing of individual hairs.

Where did threading come from? Threading is thought to originate from Turkey and was traditionally used on the entire face such as the chin, eyebrows, chin, sideburns and cheeks. However, it is been an ancient art for many countries such as India. In Arabic, hair threading is called khite. In Egypt, hair threading is called fatlah. What should I expect at my hair threading session? A hair threading session usually takes between 20 to 30 minutes (depending on the area of course). A standard hair threading session will usually involve the following steps. 1. At the start of your threading session, your beautician will begin with approximately 2 feet of cotton sewing thread. Your beautician will then take one end of the thread in each hand and knot them together to create one continuous circle. Your beautician will wind the thread several times until it resembles a bow tie. Your beautician will then slide the wound portion to each end of the thread until the thread is ready. 2. Once the thread is prepared, your beautician will hold the ends of a thread in her mouth. With her hands, she will make the thread taut and wind the strands around individual hairs (imagine your hair being in a lasso).

The hair is then twisted and pulled out of the follicles by the root. 3. In the usual eyebrow threading session, threading starts at the unwanted hair in the middle of the eyebrows before removing growth from the top and bottom of the eye brow. Where the eyebrow arch is very high, fewer hairs from the upper section are removed. However, if the eyebrow arch is low, hair will be removed from under the eye brows. Tips before your thread Before your threading session, prepare your skin by wiping the area with a cotton ball soaked in astringent. This will produce a cooling effect that numbs the skin causing you to feel less pain. Tips after your thread Here are some tips after you have your hair threaded: * Threading can cause skin irritation and ingrowth hairs so apply soothing lotion after your treatment. Soothing lotion usually contains aloe vera and chamomile. Regular exfoliation also helps to remove dead skin and avoid ingrown hairs. * To avoid skin irritation, avoid immediately after your threading treatment heat sources (such as saunas, steam rooms, sun and heavy exercise) and exfoliating products (such as AHAs and scrubs and loofas).

* To keep your eyebrows in place, spray a little hair spray on your eyebrows and brush them using little brushes. The threading debate Here are some points to consider when choosing whether or not to have your hair threaded instead of waxed or plucked. * The advantage of threading over tweezing is that threading removes naturally straight lines of hair. The pulling of hair is smooth and natural, which is less painful compared to waxing. * Another advantage of hair threading is that the top layers of skin are not peeled or traumatized. As a result, hair threading does not cause break outs, redness or pigmentation. Therefore, hair threading is recommended for people with sensitive skin. In contrast, waxing can peel or burn the top layer of facial skin, which can lead to skin loosening and wrinkles. * As a new thread is used at every treatment, hair threading is a hygienic procedure. * Threading, like plucking or waxing, can cause skin irritation and ingrown hairs. However, regular threading treatments cause hair regrowth to be finer and more sparse leading to reduced skin irritation and ingrown hairs. Choosing the right beauty salon Choosing the right beauty salon for your threading session.

Although threading may seem quite simple, this hair removal technique takes a certain amount of skill to ensure hairs are not ripped off. Threading gives best results when performed by a beautician you trust and knows exactly how you want them. You should take care in choosing the right beauty salon for your threading session. A bad experience may discourage you from threading your hair in the future and cause you problems from skin infections and ingrown hairs. Ensure that your beautician is full trained in hair threading by asking whether your beautician has completed accredited threading courses. It is best to choose a beauty salon from a word of mouth recommendation or a salon with a good reputation. This will ensure that your beautician uses quality materials for your thread. Good beauty salons use 100% cotton threads, which reduces skin trauma and redness. Before, during and after your hair threading session, ask your beautician questions to see how your beautician addresses your queries. Good salons ensure that you are completely at ease during the treatment. Any desired shape, length and thickness can be given. How much does threading cost? On average, threading costs US$5-15 for the eyebrows. Threading is therefore a relatively inexpensive hair removal method and you generally get what you pay for.

Costs also vary for larger areas. How long does threading last? Hair threading usually lasts 2-3 weeks. Hair threading does not peel or traumatize the top layer of skin. Hair threading also does not cause break outs, redness or pigmentation. As a result, it is possible to have your hair thread as often as every week, depending on your tastes. Compare this to waxing where you may have to wait 4-6 weeks for your hair to grow back. Posted by How Threading Hair Removal Works, Pros, Cons & Prices By Naomi Torres Updated August 09, 2016. Threading is an ancient way to remove hair that sprang from the east, in countries that are now known as Egypt and India. For many reasons, it's becoming very popular on the west side of the globe as the go-to method of getting rid of unwanted fuzz. It removes hair from the entire hair follicle, lasting up to six weeks. How Does it Work? A thread (often made of cotton) is pulled along unwanted hair in a twisting motion trapping hair in what can be described as a mini lasso, and uplifts it right out of the follicle. The Pros It's extremely sanitary.

Nothing but the thread touches the skin, and it's thrown away after use. There's no worry about double-dipping like with waxing, or other tools not being sanitized. Great for people with 'trouble' brows. Threading has this amazing ability to be so precise in getting each hair it's after. It has a cult following from those who say that other shaping methods, like tweezing, waxing or sugaring, could not make their brows look even. continue reading below our video How to Groom your Eyebrows | Makeup for Black Women No chemicals are applied on the skin. Many have allergies and skin sensitivities, which make it a gamble anytime they put product on their skin. With a string there are no chemicals or products used, and it can prevent a lot of unnecessary irritation. (Sometimes the tech will cleanse skin or apply powder before removing hair, so please alert them of any allergies.) It's very fast. Although every technician is different, it takes the person who shaped my eyebrows two minutes flat, from start to finish. Temporary results can turn into permanent. Over time, frequent threading can cause the hair follicle to become damaged and stop growing hair. The Cons If done incorrectly, the hairs can break.

If hair is broken either above or below the skin from an inexperienced threading professional, hair re-growth will show up sooner. It can be hard to find a tech. It's a true art that has been passed down through the generations,and isn't something you learn at most schools to become a Cosmetologist or Esthetician. Most techs have learned the technique being passed down from the previous generations. It becomes trickier especially when doing a brow shaping . Unless you live in a large metropolitan city, you may not find a salon or spa that does threading. (See: Find Brow Bars and Threading Salons by You ) Some growth is needed. About 1/16 of an inch of hair is needed for thread to wrap around. Not generally performed on the body, only the face. The string can technically remove hair from the body, but mostly it's used the shape brows and remove hair on the sides of face, upper lip, cheeks and chin on women. Ouch Factor The discomfort has been compared to tweezing. Threading removes hair quickly, so it's over sooner than tweezing. The amount of pain has a lot to do with the skill of the technician, where the hair is being removed and your personal tolerance.

Use a warm compress to relax the hair follicle for an easier exit, and apply a numbing spray or cream prior to service if you're sensitive to any discomfort. Threading Hair Removal Costs Pricing will depend on where the salon or spa is located, the amount of competition and if your state charges tax on spa services. A 15% - 20% gratuity on the total bill is the average amount to leave. Eyebrow (both eyebrows, including in-between) $12 - $50 Lip (skin right above upper lip) $6 - $20 Full Face $35 - $60 Chin $6 - $15 At Home If you can master the technique, wonderful. But you will only be able to remove hair from your body or other people's faces. There are some tools that provide some help for those who want to thread their own face and are not so crafty. Read reviews of two we've tested: Karmissie Threader Deluxe Kit and Helix Thread Ease Hair Removal Kit .

How threading works to remove unwanted and excess hair and the advantages of threading The ‘Kinder’ Method of Removing Unwanted Hair One of the less familiar ways to remove unwanted and excess hair from the body is by a technique called ‘threading’. Threading has been used since ancient times in the Far-East and Middle-East, but has only started to become a popular hair removal method in the West in latter years, since the pressure has become insanely intense to flaunt beautiful and hairless bodies to conform to aesthetical societal demands. How Threading Works Threading works by twisting a fine thread of cotton around an area of hair. One end of the cotton is held between the teeth and the other end is held by the fingers on the left hand. The rest of the thread is held in the finders of the right hand and the loop in the middle becomes entwined amongst the hair. When the thread is twisted, it dislodges the strands of hair and pulls the individual hairs out at the roots. The Advantages of Threading Despite its relative anonymity, threading has many benefits over other hair removal techniques.

Because the thread of cotton pulls out numerous strands of hair at the same time, compared to plucking, tweezing and sugaring treatments, which remove hairs one by one, threading is a much quicker hair removal technique. It is also an extremely hygienic method of hair removal, as all that is required is a piece of cotton thread, which is disposed of after use. Because of the lack of sophisticated equipment required, threading does not have to take place at a salon and can be easily performed at home. Although when it is carried out by a professional, the procedure can take just minutes. Threading the eyebrows for example, will last approximately 15 minutes, compared to the arduously slow procedure of plucking, which can regularly take between 30 to 45 minutes for a structured shape to be achieved. Threading is an extremely precise way of removing unwanted hair which can result in a very neat and polished finish. Because it involves ripping the hair from its natural lines it gives a more chiseled and defined look compared to other more random and sporadic hair removal methods such as waxing.

Although threading is not a permanent hair removal method and usually results in re-growth appearing between two to five weeks later, when the hair does grow back it is regularly reported to be much finer, softer and sparser than the previous hair – a huge plus point over the ‘harsher’ techniques, which result in more denser and coarser hair growing back. Perhaps the biggest advantage of threading as a means of removing unwanted hair from the body is the fact that it is an extremely safe method, and except from a slight reddening of the skin immediately after treatment, which usually disappears within less than an hour, very few unwelcome side effects have been reported. Due to the fact it rarely harms the skin, threading is a suitable method for people with sensitive skin and because it does not rely on harsh chemicals or any aggressive procedures, it is appropriate to be used on the more sensitive areas of the face. Another big advantage of this type of hair removal method is that unlike other some of the permanent techniques, such as laser treatments and flashlamps, threading can remove all different colors and textures of hair.

It can also remove any length of hair, from long, coarse pubic hair to shorter, stubbly hair, which gives threading a unique advantage over techniques such as waxing, which requires the hair to be of a certain length. Also unlike waxing, threading can be used by people who are using vitamin A products, such as Retin A and Isoretinoin. Waxing and Other Hair Removal Options for Skin You Love at Any Age Waxing and Other Hair Removal Options depilatory (de-pil-a-tory) — Having the capability to remove hair. Honestly, before I became an esthetician (the technical word for a skin care therapist, and often spelled aesthetician) I didn’t realize how much interest there is in hair removal, or that the interest is nearly always accompanied by frustration that most methods used to accomplish it are temporary. Estheticians can make it appear that hair growth has slowed, because we use (mostly) waxing techniques to yank those little guys out by their roots — once they recover from the abuse, hairs have farther to travel in order to reach beyond the skin’s surface.

It’s enough of a slowdown to keep you (somewhat) hair-free longer than methods that remove hair at at skin level, such as shaving and chemical depilatories. Is waxing a good choice? Is another method better? Let’s look at some common hair removal methods. Shaving We’re all familiar with shaving, either with an electric device or a razor blade (which reminds me — guys who shave every day get a perk from the process, exfoliated skin from the razor’s glide). Hair is sliced away close to the skin’s surface, and can either be felt or seen pretty quickly, depending on the location and speed of hair growth for each person. Chemical Depilatories Nair, GiGi, Surgi Cream and similar lotions are chemical depilatories. They basically melt the hair away (my term, not theirs). Chemical depilatories are available wherever you shop for groceries or drug items. They can be irritating, because the same chemicals that remove the hair also start working on the skin. New hair will be visible fairly quickly, although sometimes not so quickly as after shaving. Personally, I hate the slick, almost ‘glossy’ feel that my skin has after using these products.

If you choose to give chemical products a try, be sure to test first and follow all instructions carefully. Tweezing You’ve no doubt used a pair of tweezers to remove one hair at a time. Tweezing is great for cleaning up random hairs, but tedious-to-unrealistic when there are lots of hairs to remove. A well-lit magnifying mirror will help you find those random facial hairs (and may be a little scary, since you’ll get an enlarged look at blackheads, whiteheads and other skin residents that you can’t see without magnification). | Compare Prices of Tweezerman Tweezers | Epilating Devices Epilators look like electric razors, but they do not cut hair — they pull it out. Designs have changed over the years, and many people who use current epilating devices say they are not as painful to use as the first versions. I purchased one of the first, back in the 1980s, but didn’t continue to use it because it was a painful process that left me with little welts for days.

Users of today’s epilators say that pain diminishes with regular use — likely because fewer hairs will be attacked — not because it slows hair growth, but simply because you’ll be dealing with hairs in different stages of growth. | Compare Prices of Epilators | Waxing Estheticians use a couple of different types of wax to remove hair from the body. Both are applied with disposable sticks of varying sizes, depending on the detail required in the area being waxed. Hard wax. This wax is applied and allowed to cool and harden. It is then quickly yanked off of the skin with fingers. A quality hard wax does not stick to skin — only to hair — so can often be used on clients with sensitivity issues. Soft wax, also called strip wax, is a product that becomes the consistency of honey when heated. It is spread very thinly across the skin, and covered with a muslin or non-woven strip. When the strip is removed, hair comes with it. Ingrown hairs can be a problem with soft wax, but it’s the most practical type of treatment for large areas, such as legs, arms and backs, where hard waxing would take forever to accomplish.

Your skin care therapist will likely put a bit of powder on your skin before spreading the soft wax, to help keep the wax from grabbing skin when it hooks onto hairs. Waxing may not be an option for your facial area if you use retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids — don’t forget to mention this to your esthetician, since I doubt you want to lose chunks of skin along with hair when wax is pulled away. If you do forget, your skin care therapist may be able to tell if you use those products, as they leave the skin with somewhat of a ‘shine.’ There are other skin and health conditions that may prevent you from being waxed — your skin care therapist will review your health history and discuss options with you. Sugaring Sugaring is sometimes regarded as a natural hair removal method. Sugar can be used to remove hair in a couple of different ways, and both formulas for sugar wax are concocted with water, lemon and sugar. For one method, the solution is fairly thin, the same consistency as strip wax, and it’s applied and removed in the same way. Thicker sugar paste is used for the alternate method.

The paste is applied with gloved fingers, pressed into the skin to grab hairs and then pulled away quickly. It’s similar to the hard wax method, but remains pliable enough to be repositioned and used again (on the same person, of course). Sugaring has a few benefits when compared to waxing, including: Sugar is used at a lower temperature, so less risk of burning or irritating the skin It will grab hairs that are somewhat shorter than (typical) waxes Sugar is easier to clean off the skin (clothes, etc.) than waxes Sugar does not stick as readily to the skin as (some) waxes do, creating less trauma Threading Threading is a centuries-old technique that uses a strand of knotted cotton thread to grab hairs and pull them out — think of it as a very fast, mass production version of tweezing that’s most often used for eyebrows and other facial areas. Threading does not cause trauma to the skin, so it is a safe method for people who cannot (or do not want to) wax. Threading is easier to understand when you see a practitioner in action — this threading video offers an excellent preview (although some practitioners use a different method to hold and move the thread).

Threading is growing in popularity and is on my own ‘methods to learn’ list. Laser Hair Removal There are different types of laser hair removal methods, and each comes with its own set of pros and cons. States differ as to the licenses required to use laser devices for hair removal, so talk with someone licensed for that procedure in you area and ask questions, lots of questions. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery offers a quick look at laser hair removal , and so does the American Academy of Dermatology . What Can Be Waxed? Any area of the body can be waxed, but that doesn’t mean that every area should be waxed. Women have fine vellus hair on some parts of their faces, and on their backs and chest, and although some people want those hairs to be removed, it’s generally best to leave them alone. Men have more coarse hair in those areas, so waxing is more common. Areas most commonly waxed include eyebrows, upper lip, chin, underarms, forearms, upper arms if necessary, legs and toes — and of course the bikini area.

A service that’s called a bikini wax preps you for a hair-free look in a bathing suit, while a Brazilian bikini wax removes every bit of hair from those body parts — in the front and in the back. Most skin care therapists perform bikini waxes, but not everyone offers Brazilians, and those who do may or may not offer the service to men. That choice has less to do with modesty than with safety — during a Brazilian wax the therapist must work with very sensitive skin tissue, and that increases the chances for skin tears. Always do your homework and choose an experienced waxing pro if you desire a Brazilian bikini wax. Get recommendations from friends if possible, and ask questions about the person’s experience when you call for an appointment. ©2012, Janet Wickell Plucking vs. Waxing vs. Threading - Pageant Planet Plucking vs. Waxing vs. Threading by | No Comments | Oh the joys of hair removal; the pain, the time, and the cost. It has long been known that eyebrows make or break your look.

While methods such as plucking and threading offer less pain, they still come with their fair share of it; of course not quite to the extent of waxing which, depending on the area being waxed could have you regret ever booking the appointment. TV shows like Friends and movies such as The 40-Year-Old Virgin play off the hilarity of the situation you put yourself in with scenes featuring waxing. But how did this whole obsession with hair removal begin? Why hasn’t evolution taken care of the situation for us? What options do we have to achieve the perfect pageant look? Is there a waxing support group to help us through the pain? Know you are not alone and the evolution of the well-groomed human is quite interesting. The History of Hair Removal Ancient Times Middle Eastern women are often regarded for their beautiful and alluring eyes with good reason. Eyebrow threading began in Ancient India and the practice spread through the Middle East and China. The threading technique was also used on the entire face to get rid of unwanted hair. Threading is an ancient practice still popular today Cleopatra set the precedent for stunning features, and of course the image of a powerful woman, as seen in our history books and museums.

Ancient Egyptians used seashell tweezers, beeswax, and sugar based waxes along with pumice stones to remove unwanted hair. Hair removal separated the classes in Ancient Rome and wealthy men and women used flint razors, tweezers, creams, and stones to remove unwanted hair all over their bodies. The Dark Ages Women achieved Queen Elizabeth I’s high forehead look by removing their eyebrows and hair on their forehead (but not the hair from their bodies). They used walnut oil or bandages soaked in ammonia (from pet cats) and vinegar to achieve the look. The Enlightenment While European and American woman didn’t give much thought to hair removal (probably some lingering fear of cat scratches and ammonia stench), the French thought better, and Jean Jacques Perret developed the first straight edge razor in 1760. The Second European Industrial Revolution and The Age of Invention In 1844 Dr. Gouraud created the first depilatory cream known as “Poudre Subtle.” Then in 1880, King Camp Gillette (sound familiar), created the first modern day safety razor.

While it was only marketed to men, it undoubtedly was the start of the classic marriage debate caused by wives “borrowing” their husbands’ razors. The Early 20th Century The 1900s brought a wave of modern fashion and shortages in materials that required women to now remove hair below the neck line, and forever make us look forward to seasons that mean we can cover up and not shave. In 1907, an ad for a depilatory powder called X-Bazin Depilatory Powder came out promising to remove hair from the face, neck, and arms that was considered “humiliating.” Obviously, men were annoyed with their wives stealing their razors, and Gillette created the first razor for women in 1915, the Milady Decollete’e. In 1917, the first ad featuring a woman with bare underarms was printed in a women’s fashion magazine. Wartime Woes In the 1940s, after finding success in the male electric razor market, Remington released an electric razor for women. Due to a war induced shortage of nylon, women had to go bare legged day to day and save their nylons for special occasions.

Sockhops and Shaving Cream In the 1950s, people started talking about hair removal more publically and more ads came out. While depilatory creams were on the market, they were still very strong and irritating to the skin. So while women relied on razors for overall body hair removal, tweezing/plucking was the chosen method for eyebrow shaping. Swinging Sixties Along with social progress and the sexual revolution, the 1960s brought along another freedom for women, this time in the beauty department, with the invention of wax strips. Wax strips quickly became the preferred method because they were quick and could remove hair underarms and on legs. The 1960s also brought the first use of “futuristic” methods of hair removal. Lazar hair removal was introduced in the mid-60s but was shelved when skin damaging effects were discovered. The “Me” Decade Continuing on our path into the future, the 1970s revolutionized a century old technology, electrolysis; making it safer to use and the equipment more reliable in producing results. This was done with the bikini area in mind.

The bikini continued to grow in popularity as it got smaller in coverage area, so hair removal with minimal irritation became a necessity as the decade went on and when HDTV came out years later. Hair Removal as We Know It Hello modern day! The 1980s brought great economic and social change and growth and with it helped establish the consumer driven, self-indulgent, why do it myself when I can pay to have it done for me society of today. We have also seen famous eyebrows come on scene from Brooke Shields, to Dwayne”The Rock” Johnson, to Cara Delevingne. While we are still chasing the ultimate, pain free, don’t have to do it daily, and not super expensive method of hair removal, tweezing, shaving, waxing, and depilatory creams are still part of our daily routines as women. Nail salons offer eyebrow waxing, Ulta has a “Brow Bar,” DIY now includes waxing, and laser hair removal will give you freedom from the razor with a few visits and a credit card. Choosing a Method Now that you’ve got the history, you know you’re not alone.

But since we know you’d rather spend that dough on your dream gown right now rather than on hair removal, deciding which of the time-tested and go-to hair removal methods you should choose for your brows is key to your success. Here are some tips and hints for each method and some pageant girls weighed in on their method of choice to help you out. Plucking/tweezing While for some it is the sole method for brow shaping, many girls bust out the tweezers to touch up and spread the time between appointment visits for waxing or threading. It is also the preferred method for girls with sensitive skin. However, be careful with this DIY approach. As with any hair removal method, the more you do it, the less hair will grow back overtime and eventually stop growing altogether, leaving you with sparse brows, and the Queen Elizabeth I look, as you age. While this is true for all hair removal methods, the warning is heeded extra heavily on plucking/tweezing because it is conveniently done at home with just a pair of tweezers and a mirror. So, do your future self a favor and try not take your boredom out on your brows.

Tweezing is one of the most popular methods for pageant girls to manage their eyebrows What the girls said: “I tweeze but my eyebrows happen to be so thin I don’t have to do it often. My hair is more or less blonde [when] it comes in so when I feel them it bothers me and sometimes I even pull the stragglers with my fingers; which may not be the best beauty regimen. I do get them waxed maybe four times a year just to clean them up as well,” Katie Cole, Miss Nationwide 2015. “I have to pluck my eyebrows because I have such sensitive skin that I have an allergic reaction to waxes. Plus I am able to pluck them to perfection and not end up with a rash on my face for weeks,” Karly Fereday, Miss Vermont International 2015. Waxing Quite possibly one of the most painful hair removal methods we have, but also the most popular amongst the pageant girls we talked to, is waxing.

Many cited that it is also the most time efficient with an appointment taking about 10-15 minutes and usually as part of an add on to another spa indulgence; and who doesn’t like going to the spa? Different kinds of waxes are formulated for various body parts. Ensuring that the correct wax is being used can save you from burns and skin abrasions. The process involves heating the wax, covering it with a cotton strip, and ripping it off; usually in the opposite direction of hair growth. Because of its liquid nature, when applied, coverage of not only the hair but also the skin surrounding the hair occurs and the top layer of skin is removed along with the hair, leaving you with red irritation surrounding your brows for a while after. Jesse Ladoue, The Pageant Planet’s Queen of Fashion and Miss International 2013 cautions waxers, “If you wax you should do so a minimum of three days before a spray tan or pageant.

You need time for your ‘little hairs’ to grow back so that the tan or your makeup properly adheres to the skin around the eyebrow.” So give yourself time and make sure you are going to a reputable eyebrow specialist or esthetician who can ensure minimal skin damage, especially before a special event. DIY waxing kits are available for the busy girl who doesn’t have time to get to a salon and one of the best designed, no heat or Popsicle stick with molten wax near your eyeball required, is the eyebrow pen from Nads, available at Ulta. The pen shape design gives you ultimate control and precision. Apply the cotton strip, smooth, then rip. It rarely hurts, the strips are reusable, and if you didn’t get the wax where you wanted it just wash it off with water and start again. If going the DIY route, practice before your pageant or special event and follow Jesse’s three day minimum rule. What the girls said: “I wax 3-5 days before I leave for my pageant. I need time for my skin to settle down,” Amber Rae Mack, Mrs. New Jersey International 2015. “My brows are sparse and light.

I wax for shape and pluck for maintenance,” Jill Brees Barr, Mrs. Iowa International 2015 “I only wax tem with a hypoallergenic wax a few times a year and pluck to maintain due to having very sensitive skin,” Lexi Corsentino, Miss Teen Louisiana International 2009. “Waxing! ‘Oooh, that’s hot…ow!’ You’re done,” Rose Wong, Miss Teen Great Lakes International 2015. “I prefer to get mine waxed because it is faster and easier and they shape it better than I do. However, I pluck in between. I take a white makeup pencil and outline my eyebrows, then I go back through and just pluck the hairs that are white,” Stephanie Sawyer, Miss California Nationwide 2015. Threading Starting in India over 6000 years ago, eyebrow threading uses a thin thread (cotton or polyester) that is doubled, then twisted. It is then rolled over the area of unwanted hair. Combining the precision of plucking with the speed of waxing, threading provides control while removing multiple hairs at once.

It can be painful as a result, but unlike waxing it is gentler on the skin with any irritation clearing up soon after. Appointments take about 15-20 minutes depending on what is needed to be done to get the look you are trying to achieve. Because of its speed and skin benefits, threading was also a common option amongst pageant girls. However, depending on where you live it can be difficult to find someone trained to thread eyebrows. What the girls said: “I’ve always threaded mine. They look better and always end up with a nicer arch. They usually only look red for about a half hour after too,” Kimberly Spigarelli, Miss Teen Michigan International 2013. “Threading! Unlike waxing, it does not remove layers of skin in the removal process. [It is] so much better for your skin. The finished result is more precise as well,” Ashley (Hebert) Bridges, Miss Louisiana International 2013. “Threading. It gives you beautiful, precise, and exotic looking eyebrows. It looks much cleaner, and there [are] less bumps and redness,” Chanti Derrick, Miss Teen Oklahoma International 2011.

Wrapping Up We hope the history of hair removal helps understand that the perfect brow has always been an attainable beauty look; even if the process to get it was a little nauseating. The process has come a long way and even with the technology of today and eyebrow pencils too fill in mistakes, we have an even farther way to go, if only to make it pain free and budget friendly. Take care in removing your hair so as not to remove too many repeatedly and end up with sparse brows as you age. As with most things, less is more. A defined brow can make or break your look. Get them professionally done if you have never shaped your brows before or if it has been awhile and then you can keep up with them from there with tweezers or some DIY wax. Remember, just as shoes can make or break an outfit; brows can define how you are perceived. The first impression is everything. Thank you! Please wait while we find more dresses. Which dress do you like better? Post navigation

Question: What is the method of hair removal called in which strands of cotton are used to pluck unwanted hair?
Answer: Threading